From January 2022 to June 2024, a cumulative total of 99,176 laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox, including 208 deaths, were reported from 116 countries and territories in all six World Health Organization (WHO) regions, according to an August 12 report from the agency.

WHO’s Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER), issued on August 23, explained that,“Of the globally reported cases with available data on gender, an overwhelming 96.4 per cent were male, with a median age of 34 years.”

In Cambodia, the Communicable Disease Control Department (CDCD) reported 20 cases of mpox in 2023 and 2024. 

All were identified as Clade II and have since been treated and cured, reflecting the country's effective management of the outbreak.

“From 2023 to 2024, the department diagnosed 20 cases of [Clade II], all in males, who were treated by specialists,” according to the CDCD.

This stark gender disparity has raised significant public health concerns. Among cases with known HIV status, approximately 52.1 per cent were individuals living with HIV, highlighting the virus's severe impact on those with compromised immune systems.

The global mpox outbreak, which began in 2022, has been predominantly driven by the Clade IIb variant. 

“The virus's primary mode of transmission – through close, intimate contact – has been particularly prevalent in the social and sexual networks of adult gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM),” WHO stated.  

According to the organisation, this specific pattern of transmission is a key reason for the higher prevalence of the virus among males.

It noted that while mpox can spread through various means, such as contact with contaminated objects or respiratory droplets, sexual transmission significantly contributed to the outbreak's dynamics. 

“The concentration of the virus within male-dominated networks, particularly within the MSM community, has been identified as a primary factor in the disproportionate impact on males,” said WHO. 

The number of confirmed cases reached a peak in August 2022, followed by a substantial decline through 2023. 

However, low-level transmission persists in several countries, with reports continuing to rise in certain settings in central Africa where the disease is endemic.

In May 2024, an outbreak of mpox due to the Clade IIb variant emerged in South Africa, leading to severe illness and high mortality among individuals with immunosuppression. 

“Meanwhile, in the African region, the emergence of Clade Ib – a new subclade of the historically virulent Clade I – has posed a significant public health threat,” according to WHO.  

It said Clade Ib has been particularly dangerous for individuals with compromised immune systems, including those with untreated or advanced HIV infections, young children and pregnant women.

The resurgence of mpox in Africa, driven by Clade Ib, prompted the WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in August 2024. 

The declaration underscored the critical need for enhanced surveillance, vaccination and treatment efforts in regions affected by this virulent strain.

As the world continues to monitor the evolving situation, the Cambodian public health authorities emphasise the importance of targeted interventions, particularly within male-dominated groups, to mitigate the spread of mpox and protect vulnerable populations from severe outcomes.